JICF 1 Peter #5 Sermon Notes
1 Peter 2:9-10
October 9, 2016
A German born American psychologist, Erik Erikson, coined the term ‘identity crisis’.
His daughter Sue, in her book, ‘In the Shadows of Fame’, ironically describes her father
as being plagued by ‘lifelong feelings of personal inadequacy.’ His mother Karla, a
Danish Jew, fell pregnant to a Gentile. After Erik was born she gave him the surname
Salomonsen. Later Karla married Theodor Homberger and Erik’s surname was changed
again. During childhood and early adulthood his mother kept secret the details of his
birth. Erik’s daughter suggests that her father’s ‘identity’ was not set till he replaced his
stepfather’s surname with an invented name, Erikson. Knowing our identity is crucial!
Does the church have an identity crisis? Some people think it is fundamentally bad.
Emile Zola wrote, ‘Civilization will not attain perfection until the last stone from the last
church falls on the last priest.’ Others think it almost irrelevant. With regards same sexmarriage Rob Bells says, ‘the church will continue to be even more irrelevant when it
quotes letters from 2,000 years ago as their best defense.’ The Apostle Peter disagrees.
He describes the church as alive, active, stable, eternal - built on the foundation of the
Living Stone Jesus (2:4); not a building - believers who belong to a ‘spiritual house’ (2:5)
We need never be unsure about our identity as Christians nor feel so inadequate that
we have to reinvent our identity. Writing to a bullied, socially isolated and scattered
church in first century Asia Minor, Peter reminds Christians who and why we are.
‘you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession’
(2:9). Peter uses four Old Testament adjectives and four collective nouns to describe the
church’s identity and purpose. The terms ‘royal priesthood...holy nation...special
possession’ come from God’s word to Israel at Sinai. (Ex 19:5-6) ‘Chosen people’ comes
from God’s word to Israel in Babylon through Isaiah ‘my people........my chosen.’ (43:20)
The Church’s identity is grounded solidly in God’s liberating power and lavish grace.
Exodus 19 describes the time two months after Israel was freed from slavery in Egypt.
Their arrival at Sinai testified to God’s faithfulness to Abraham (Ex 2:24-25) and Moses (Ex
3:12). Now they are gathered at Horeb in the next stage of God’s plan to bless world.
God speaks to Israel as their rescuer. ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt,
and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself’ (Ex 19:3-4) and calls
them to respond. ‘If you obey me fully and keep my covenant then out of all the nations
you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for
me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’(5-6) From atop that mountain God reminds
Moses that Israel is to witness to God’s salvation to the ‘whole earth’. God’s promise
to free Israel from Babylonian exile had the same missionary purpose: ‘that they may
proclaim my praise’ (Is 43:21) ‘to all......the ends of the earth’ (Is 45:22; 52:10) Peter takes
up God’s covenant promise and global purpose to define the church! you are a chosen
people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession’ We are one people
- a nation; not a country with borders but a community of mercy and grace. To be
‘chosen’ means God has called us to himself, setting his love on us and saving us (1:2).
God’s choice of us is the basis of our security in Christ, who was ‘chosen by God’ (1:20).
God choosing of us is the reason we suffer like Jesus, who was ‘rejected by men but
chosen by God.’ (2:4) To be ‘holy’ is our status of being separated to God as his people.
Just as a toothbrush is designed for use in only one mouth, to be holy means God has
set us apart for Himself to do his will. We are holy because of God’s choice not because
of our conduct, for ‘being a sinner is a prerequisite for being a church member.’(R. Sproul)
Christians are called to live holy lives, but before holy behavior comes a holy belonging.
As God’s ‘special possession’ we are uniquely loved by God as His children. What does
it mean to be a ‘royal priesthood? In Eden humans were created to ‘rule’ (Gen 1:26;28)
and crowned with ‘all things under their feet’ (Psalm 8:6). God’s charge to Adam to guard
and serve God’s sanctuary (2:15) was to live as God’s representative king and priest.
At Sinai, Israel took up that priestly role of representing God to Man and Man to God.
‘Israel's role..forfeited by disobedience, is transferred in the Gospels..to Jesus.’(Dumbrell)
Jesus is God’s priest (Psalm 110:4) and king (Zech 6:13). Jesus represents us to God, and
makes us right with God, and prays for us to God. In Jesus believers are kingly priests.
The church has the ‘priestly duty of proclaiming the Gospel of God’ (Romans 15:16). We
‘declare the praises of him who called us out of darkness into his wonderful light.’ (2:9)
Where we once walked in darkness and faced judgment now we have received mercy.
Our deepest need for forgiveness and fellowship with God has been secured by Jesus.
Like Israel in Egypt and in Babylon, we’ve been set free ‘to be a kingdom and priests.’
(Rev 1:6; 5:9-10) This means living morally (in God’s light) and being merciful. It also means
sharing in Christ’s authority in gospel proclamation (Matt 16:19); breaking the power of
sin: ‘For whatever is born of God overcomes the world...this is the victory -our faith’ (1
John 5:4); patiently enduring in trials (‘if we endure we will also reign with him’- 2 Tim
2:11); and overcoming temptation and suffering (‘To the one who is victorious, I will
give the right to sit with me on my throne – Rev 3:21). One day ‘those same people who
are presently at the bottom of the ladder, treated as the lowest of the low, who are
weak and oppressed by everyone, will reign with Christ! What a reward!’ (David Murray)
The church is a worshipping community that gratefully confesses the Lord Jesus as the
world’s true King by living daily in the light and life of God’s liberating, saving grace.
Peter’s letter defines for us the church that has commonly been called ‘Evangelical’.
Conversionism: believing transformation is by an inward, spiritual change of heart.
(1:23)
Christocentrism: believing salvation is by the unique, saving name and work of Jesus. (1:2; 2:4)
Biblicism: believing the Bible to be the ultimate authority for faith and practice.
(2:6)
Activism: demonstrating the gospel through global evangelism and social reform.
(2:10)
Crucicentrism: trusting in the all sufficient sacrifice of Jesus on the cross for redemption. (2:24)
Erik Erikson eventually converted to Christianity in the 1930’s. He found his security
(chosen), status (holy), value (special) and purpose (king / priests) in the Lord Jesus Christ.
The church is never irrelevant for it possesses what the world desperately needs.
‘The True Church can never fail. For it is based upon a rock.’ – T.S. Eliot